Question

I want to be better about knowing when I should cast. What are the implicit type conversion rules in C++ when adding, multiplying, etc. For example,

int + float = ?
int * float = ?
float * int = ?
int / float = ?
float / int = ?
int / int = ?
int ^ float = ?

et cetera…

Will the expression always be evaluated as the more precise type? Do the rules differ for Java?
Please correct me if I have worded this question inaccurately.

Answer 1

In C++ operators (for POD types) always act on objects of the same type.
Thus if they are not the same one will be promoted to match the other.
The type of the result of the operation is the same as operands (after conversion).

if:
either is      long double       other is promoted >      long double
either is           double       other is promoted >           double
either is           float        other is promoted >           float
either is long long unsigned int other is promoted > long long unsigned int
either is long long          int other is promoted > long long          int
either is long      unsigned int other is promoted > long      unsigned int
either is long               int other is promoted > long               int
either is           unsigned int other is promoted >           unsigned int
either is                    int other is promoted >                    int

Otherwise:
both operands are promoted to int

Note. The minimum size of operations is int. So short/char are promoted to int before the operation is done.

In all your expressions the int is promoted to a float before the operation is performed. The result of the operation is a float.

int + float =>  float + float = float
int * float =>  float * float = float
float * int =>  float * float = float
int / float =>  float / float = float
float / int =>  float / float = float
int / int                     = int
int ^ float =>  <compiler error>